Electrician Fred Frazzetta first spoke to company supervisors when he saw troubling things during renovations at two Las Vegas casinos , Harrah’s on the Strip and the Rio. He called the employee hotline when he saw floors gutted for remodeling, concerned that the work was not being properly inspected and that public safety was at risk. When his employer first demoted and then fired Frazzetta, he took his story public. Newspaper reports led to the closing of 700 rooms at Harrah’s while problems were corrected, and Harrah’s remodeling department was closed down. Eventually, state regulators fined the casinos’ owner $11,500 for a total of 18 workplace safety violations. Frazzetta says that others saw the same things and did not report the problems, but he insists he is not a hero, he was just trying to “do the right thing.” He has encouraged others to speak out when they see dangerous conditions. But he also believes that true reform will only occur when it is less expensive to do things right the first time–when fines are heavy enough to hurt and criminal charges are brought against violators. Frazzetta says, “The fines are so low it makes more sense for the bean counters to recommend to the company to go ahead (with construction) and to not worry about the fines.” Top administrators with Harrah’s and with the county have commended Frazzetta’s courage, but Frazzetta remains without a job or a home.
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